The experience of body boundaries by Siamese twins.

Murray, Craig (2001) The experience of body boundaries by Siamese twins. New Ideas in Psychology, 19 (2). pp. 117-130. ISSN 0732-118X

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Abstract

Siamese twins share some body surface, and may also share organs and/or limbs, as well as having areas of joint sensation and movement. Apart from issues relating to the nature-nurture debate, psychology has paid little attention to the phenomena of Siamese twinning. This paper discusses the phenomenal experience of body boundaries by Siamese twins in relation to issues of self and identity. It is argued that aspects of individual embodiment provide an ambiguous body boundary for this group. Specifically, it is argued that phenomena such as areas of common tactile sensation (overlapping ‘sensory rims’) and the ability to move shared limbs (divided ‘authorship of action’), fosters an experience of body as sentiently and spatially extended into their sibling.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
New Ideas in Psychology
Additional Information:
The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, New Ideas in Psychology 19 (2), 2001, © ELSEVIER.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1200/1207
Subjects:
?? history and philosophy of sciencepsychology(all)psychology (miscellaneous)r medicine (general) ??
ID Code:
26078
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
16 Mar 2009 11:12
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Nov 2023 11:06